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The Library 
Chis book was presented 


THE ISSUES 


OVS EL 


CAMPAIGN 


STATED. 


pela AgNT 


OPEN LETTER 


ab (a eae 


Van B. Sparrow, 


Patterson Township, 


Durham County, 


_ FROM : 
Wo, OAR. 
Chairman, 


Durham County Democratic Ex- 


ecutive Committee. 


eee ERP a Fein mary 


oe ee oe 


Duruam, N. C., October 24th., 1898. 
Mr. Van B. Sparrow, Pickett’s Mill, Patter- 
son Township, Durham County; 
Dye Dear Sir:— 

If I did not believe you an honest, fair 
minded man, open to conviction anda 
seeker after truth, I would not trouble to 
write you this letter. I have been pained, 
my dear friend, to hear that you and your 
son, James, both make the declaration, 
that “there are no negroes in office in North 
Carolina, excepting such negroes as were 
either appointed to office by Democrats, or 
recommended to office by Democrats.” 

Now, my dear sir, this statement is so 
far from correct that it shocks me to think 
you could believe it, much less be circu- 
lating the report. 

I shall not attempt to mislead you in the 
slightest particular in this matter, but will 
State the truth as it is. When the Demo- 
cratic party went out of power it was rare 
that a negro office-holder could be found in 
the State; and when one was found, it was 
in a position and under circumstances 
which did not make him obnoxious to the 
white people, and which did not create with- 
in him a desire to rule overand dominate the 
white man. 

In the four years of Republican fusion 
legislation, and in the year anda half of 
Republican-Populist fusion administration, 
wonderful strides have been made in con- 
ferring office upon the negro, and in setting 
him up to rule over white men. 

_ To show the progress being made in es- 

tablishing the negro as aruler in various 

and sundry positions in the State, I give a 

Partial list of the offices held by him, se- 
2) 


PIALTO 


lected from a few counties of the State as a 
sample, by way of illustration, 

In Columbus county there are 17 negro 
school Committeemen, 5 negro magistrates, , 
and 2 negro pastmasters. 

In Hertford there are 6 negro magis- 
trates, I constable, 10 negro school: com- 
mitteemen, 2 negro postmasters and 1 ne- 
gro on the board of education. 

In Perquimans there are 6 negro magis- 
trates, 10 school committeemen, 1 member 
board of education, 1 county commissioner 
and 1 town constable. 

In Jones there are 3 negro magis- 
trates, 12 negro school committeemen, in 
five townships there being two negroes on 
each committee, | : 

In Caswell there are 7 negro magistrates, 
I negro school committeeman in each 
township, 1 negro deputy sheriff. | 

In Wayne there are 6 negro magistrates, . 
2 negro postmasters, 3 negro aldermen, I 
clerk in Goldsboro postoffice. 

In Nash there are 3 negro magistrates 
11 negro school committeemen. . 

In Edgecombe there are negro post- 
masters in the towns of Rocky Mount, 
Battleboro and Lawrence; there are 35 
negro magistrates and 8 negro constables, 
besides a large number of negro school 
committeemen. 

In Richmond there are tc negro magis- 
frates, 23 negro school committeemen, two 
negroes being on every school committee — 
(except one where there isa vacancy), I 
negro on the board of education, 1 deputy 
sheriff and 3 negro road overseers. 

There are 40 or more negro postmasters 
in Eastern North Carolina, not one of 
whom was appointed or recommended by a 
Democrat. | 7 dts 

In the city of Wilmington the majority of 

: 4 


the offices are filled by negroes, also in the 
city of New Bern, and in the towns of 
Greenville and Kinston, the policemen, 
deputy sheriffs, constables, and all such 
positions are largely filled by negroes, not 
one of whom was appointed or recom- 
mended by a Democrat. 

This progress has been made under Re- 
publican administration of affairs, with the 
aid of the Populists; and it is safe to con- 
clude that if the Republican party is con- 
tinued in power, this progress of the negro 
as an Office-holder will continue to go on. 
What then are the results likely to be, 
when Gov. Russell himself is on 
Peeetaeeas  sayine, “THE NEGROES 
PeeeeRALLY GO WITH THE RAS 
CALS.” Touching the real condition of 
affairs in Wilmington, I invite your at- 
tention to a letter written during the: past 
week, by Mr. W. H. Chadbourn, the Re- 
publican postmaster at Wilmington, a close 
personal friend,» and associate of Gov. 
Russell, 


(Extract from Mr. Chadbourn’s letter.) 


“As amatter of fact, there are in this 
county 36 negro magistrates and a colored 
register of deeds, and various minor officials 
besides some presidential appointees, and 
the property owners, taxpayers and_ busi- 
ness men seriously object to this state of 
affairs, and there now exists here the most 
intense feeling against any sort of negro 
domination. 

There is a greater feeling of unrest and 
uncertainty about the maintenance of order 
than I have ever seen and many, even the 
most conservative, feel that a race conflict 
is imminent, than which nothing could be 
more disastrous, not only to this city and 
county, but to our party in the State, and 

5 


rather than have riot, arson and bloodshed 
here, I, Republican though I am, advise 
the giving up of the local offices in this 
county, as there are no national political 
principles involved in this conflict. 

I had thought at first that it was merely 
the usual political cry and the fight for the 
offices, but lam now convinced that the 
feeling is much deeper than this, as it per- 
vades the whole community, and there 
seems to be a settled determination on the 
part of the property owners, business men 
and- taxpayers that they will adminisier 
city and county gcvernment.” © 

What is the State of affairs in Newbern? 
Permit me to call your attention to the fol- 
lowing: ee 

Mr. L. E. Green, near Ellenboro, wanted 
to know the truth about negro rule in 
Craven county, and wrote to the clerk of 
‘the court for the facts in the matter. Below 
we give the answer of the clerk to his let- 
ter of inquiry, and if you arean honest jury- 
man you will decide the case for yourself 
and act accordingly: 

Superior Court, Craven conty, N. C., 

W. M. Watson, Clerk, 
Newsern, N. C., Sept, 28, 1898. 
L. E. Green, Ellenboro. N, C.: : 

My Dear Sir: Yours to hand, and I will 
endeavor to give you the facts. 

In Craven county there are 27 negro 
magistrates, 12 or 15 negroschool commit- 
teemen. The register of deeds and his 
deputies are negroes. All the sheriff’s dep- 
uties are negroes. The court crier is a 
negro. The township constable is a negro 
One of the county commissioners is a 
negro. ‘The town has three negro council- 
men and five negro policemen, and the 
city attorney is a negro. White men and 
white women are arrested by negro sheriffs 

6 


a me tr “she 


> 
oe “ aie 


or constables, tried before negro magis- 
trates and committed to the custody of a 
negro jailor. 

The nominees for county offices are as 
follows: House of Representatives, negro; 
register of deeds, negro; county treasurer, 
negro; county commissioner, negro; con- 
stable, negro. The candidates for clerk 
and sheriff, who are the only whites, were 
made to promise that they would have 
none but negroes as their deputies. Could 
any white people be in a worse condition 
than we are? 

We appeal to the Anglo-Saxon race of 
North Carolina, with whatever political 
party they may have been voting, to rescue 
us from this terrible condition. You have 
no idea of the complete reign of terror that 
exists in the eastern counties. The papers 
have not told half. I forgot to state that 
the tax-listers in some of the townships are 
negroes. Very respectfully, 

W. M. Watson, 
Clerk of Superior Court. 


Craven but illustrates the present or. 
threatened condition of all Eastern North 
_ Carolina. 

Can honest white men contemplate such 
a condition, and having the remedy in their 
‘own hands, a remedy which will protect 
all without injury to any, refuse to apply it? 

My dear sir, it is bad enough, God 
knows, for these white brethren of ours in 
the east to have to live under negro domi- 
nation and suffer their jeers, taunts and in- 
sults; then don’t let us add to their abase- 
ment by charging it around and telling our 
neighbors that this condition of affairs has 
been brought about by their own procure- 
ment. Negro domination with all its hor- 
rors is bad enough—for heaven’s sake don't 
add to the humiliation of our white brethren 

7 


by misrepresenting them. 

More than this, my dear friend, do you 
know what George White, the negro Con- 
gressman from North Carolina, said at the 
State Republican convention held in Ral- 
eigh about a month ago? And, by the way, 
who is responsible for the negro, George 
White, being in Congress? Certainly not 
the Democrats, for that good, true and 
tried Democrat, Hon. Fred A. Woodward, 
a Christian gentleman of the finest type, of 
Wilson, N. C., ran against him and did all 
in his power to defeat him, but the Repub- 
licans, white and colored men, elected the 
negro, George White. George White, the 
negro, is running for Congress again this 
year, against Mr. Charles R. Thomas, a 
white man, a_ graduate of Chapel 
Hill, whom you likely know, and as 
fine a man as there is in the State, and 
what do you find?) Why, not only the Re- 
publicans, black and white. Supporting the 
negro White, but some white men masque- 
rading as Populists, but really at heart Re- 
publicans, supporting White, the negro, 
against the white man, Thomas. My dear 
friend, any white man who Supports a 
negro for office against a white man is a 
Republican, or worse, although he may de- 
clare he is a Populist until he is as black in 
the face as the negro he votes for. Now, 
if negroes and white men with black prin- 
ciples elect the negro George White to 
Congress, please don’t norate it among 
your friends that the Democrats endorsed 
and elected him. 

But to come back to what the negro 
George White said at the Republican State 
convention. In his speech before that con- 
vention he said, ‘THERE ARE NOT 
AS MANY NEGROES IN. OFFICE AS 
THERE ARE GOING TO BE.” There 

8 


was no speech delivered before the 
Republican State Convention that provoked 
the applause that White’s speech did. He 
was the lion of the occasion. The white 
man was “‘not in it.” The negro domi- 
nated the convention. Now, who will put 
more negroes in office? Certainly not the 
Democrats. Did you hear of any negroes 
addressing the State Democratic conven- 
tion? I had the honor of being named the 
temporary chairman of the State Demo- 
cratic convention, and presided for awhile 
over the convention.. If you are. prepared 
to take my word for it, there -were no 
speeches delivered before the State Demo- 
cratic convention, except by white 
men. Then how are more negroes 
to get into office, as George White 
declares? Have you seen any of the tickets 
nominated in the Eastern counties for the 
Legislature, clerk of the court, register of 
deeds, etc.? Not one Democratic ticket 
has a negro nominated for any position— 
not one. While on the other hand, the 
Republican tickets have negroes on them 
for every place from Congressman down; 
then, my dear friend, don’t it seem that 
it would be fair and honest for you to re- 
cant and say that you have been misled, 
that the Democrats are in no wise responsi- 
ble for the negroes being in office in North 
Carolina. And, may ‘I tell you that in 
North Carolina, is the only place in the 
whole world, that there are more white 
folks than negroes, and yet the negro domi- 
nates our politics; and you are fair enough 
to admit without argument that in no 
State administration is there the scandals 
and abuse that you hear about North Caro- 
lina. All the States South of us are holding 
_up North Carolina as a horrible example of 
¢he curse of negro rule. I can truthfully 
9 4 


tell you that men with money from the 
North, have been prevented from locating 
in our midst, with their money, because 
they were unwilling to risk the situation as 
it exists today in North Carolina. 

Not only are Republicans naming ne- 
groes on their tickets in Eastern counties, 
but the character of some of these negroes 
is not such as to commend them to white 
men. For instance, Lee Person, the negro 
Republican candidate for the Senate from 
Wilson, says: ‘‘THE TIME HAD COME 
WHEN THE POOR WHITE MAN AND 
THE NEGRO WERE EQUAL, AND THE 
TIME -WOULD: COME *WHEN@?i=. 
WHITE > MAN’ -WOULD?) INVITE)” TEs 
NEGRO :TO “EAT: AND “SLEBP (Wig 
EINE 

The negro'“Lee ‘Person said: thismamae 
political speaking at Lucanna, Wilson 
‘county, Friday, October 7th. He advised 
the negroes to register and go to the polls 
with pistols and rocks in their pockets. 
He advised all negroes to stop working for 
the whites, and said as long as negroes. 
brushed up stores and waited on the whites, 
that the whites would think themselves 
above them, etc. ‘This is only a sample of | 
the three hour’s speech made by this negro 
bully, a candidate for the Senate from the 
good old county of Wilson. Now, my 
dear friend, don't charge the Democrats 
with the responsibility of Lee Person’s bad . 
conduct, for it is bad enough for the Demo- 
crats to have to endure his insolence, not 
to be charged with his vicious bad conduct. 

Let me tell you something, which per- 
haps you have not heard. The Second 
Judicial District is composed of the coun- 
ties of Craven, Bertie, . Halifax, Warren, 


Northampton and Edgecombe, known ass 


negro counties—that is to say, the negro 
10 


predominates in these counties—the Judi- 
cial Convention, for the purpose of nomi- 
nating a candidate for Judge assembled in 
Tarboro, about ten days ago; there was 
not a white delegate in the whole conven- 
tion, not one. A negro convention to 
nominate a judge to try your causes and 
mine, a judge perhaps to sit upon the lives 
of your friends and neighbors and my 
friends and neighbors. Great God, is the 
Anglo-Saxon race of North Carolina pre- 
pared for such a thing? Nowhere else but 
in North Carolina could such a thing be 
possible. But shame to say, here in the 
land where Vance was born, reared and 
died; here in North Carolina where the 
first Declaration of Independence was 
written, declaring that we were freemen, 
and were. not to be dominated by British 
tyranny, and our fore-fathers sealed this 
declaration with their blood; here, oh, I 
blush to own it, we find men with white 
skins apologizing for negro rule. 

You are prepared to say lam an enemy 
to the negro; but in this you are mistaken. 
I am the negro’s friend, in the negro’s 
place. I claim that ‘‘there is a line by us 
unseen, that crosses every path,” and the 
negro must not, no shall not, if I can pre- 
Memes cross that’, path. 1.’ am «the 
negros friend in his place, and I have 
Proven that ~ 1 have stood by «his 
sick bedside; I have followed his body 
stiff in death to its last resting place; 
I have fostered and encouraged their 
industrial enterprises; I have aided them in 
building their churches and school houses; 
i have assisted 100, I suppose, in buying 
little homes; I have given them houses 
tent free for years; | have paid their gro- 
cery bills, their coal and wood -bills more 
than 100 times. Beside paying heavy 

II 


taxes, one-half of which goes to educate 
the children of negroes. I have given 
time and again money to buy their book, 
and I have sent negro children to school 
and paid their board and tuition out of my 
own pocket. The truth is, I have done 
so much to elevate the negro, and in 
trying to help him to help himself, that I 
have oftentimes been criticiged for it, and 
only this week some Republican-Populists 
have been criticising me very severely for 
doing so much for the negroes. So, I re- 
peat, 1 am a friend of the negro in his 
place, but mind you, HE MUST BE IN 
HIS PLACE. I am very far from being 
like the Durham Republican-Populist, who 
criticises ‘‘Jule Carr,” for befriending the 
negro, and then march up and vote the ne- 
gro ticket. Iam for my color first, last, 
and all the time, and it is best for the negro 
that I should be so, because itis an ad- 
mitted fact, that the negro is not capable 
or competent for selfgovernment. I have | 
never imposed upon the negro, nor per- 
mitted it to he done when in my power to 
prevent it. The negro understands that in 
his place, he always finds in me a friend, 
and hundreds of them bring their troubles 
to me for advice, except about election 
times; then, they never consult nor advise 
with me. Yet they understand very thor- 
oughly, that while I am at all times ready 
to befriend and do often aid them in their — 
troubles that itis always as a white man 
and a negro. And while I enjoy their re- 
spect and confidence not one of them for 
his right arm would presume to forget a 
negro’s place in my presence. 

I have perhaps consumed too much of 
your time ‘‘crying negro,” as the opposi- 
tion is pleased to term the position . of 


the Democratic party touching the ques- | 
ath i. . 


tion of white supremacy, and yet I can 
offer no apology, because the situation as I 
see it, plainly indicates that the negro 
question is the burning question of the 
hour, and means more to you and to 
me,.and to ours, than all the other 
questions combined. As much as I 
have said concerning the negro ques- 
tion I have scarcely entered into it, for 
the reason that there is so much to be said 
in Opposition to negro domination. Ihave 
omitted to say anything of the insolence 
and intolerance that the negro is guilty of, 
and the alarming growth of this disposition 
in the section of the State dominated by 
negroes. Ihave omitted to tell you that 
chambers of commerce composed of Re- 
publicans and Democrats in some of our 
negro ridden cities, have passed strong 
resolutions, calling upon their white breth- 
ren in other parts of the State, to come to 
their aid and relief. I have omitted to tell 
you that in some portions of North Caro- 
lina, notably Wilmington, the negroes are 
arming, and the lives and property of many 
of the best white people are in peril. I have 
omitted to direct your attention to the in- 
creased number of occurrences in North 
Carolina, where the black brute lays his 
lustful hands, upon some pure, innocent 
white girl, and debauches her and thereby 
blights her young life, and breaks the 
hearts of doting parents. My dear friend, 
my heart sickens as | contemplate the situ- 
ation, and, as a white man, I call upon 
you in the name of the white men and 
women of North Carolina to give the 
strength of your ballot on the 8th day of 
November to the support of the white 
man’s ticket and the white man’s party. 
Yes, more, I beg you to use your influence 
in the meanwhile among your neighbors 
13 


and friends for the success of the white man’s 
party, for you have my word for it, we 
stand face to face with a serious crisis in 
North Carolina, and that crisis will decide 
whether the negro or white man will domi- 
nate North Carolina. ; 

What can it mean when Mr. F. W. Mc- 
Clement, a life-long Republican, of the 
State of New York, now manager of the 
Railway and Electric Power Company, at 
Winston. oN... representing $150,000.00, 
declines to further affiliate with and vote 
the Republican fusion tieket? In the 
News and Observer of yesterday, Mr. Mc- 
Clement announces that he cannot and will 
not vote the Republican Fusion ticket, 
because it means negro domination. My 
dear friend, is it a possible thing, that Mr. 
McClement, a Northern man by birth, and 
if I mistake not an ex-Union soldier, anda 
Republican from principle, thinks more of 
the white people of the South than some of 
us think of ourselves? He Says he cannot 
conscientiously vote for fusion this year, 
representing as it does, negro domination. 
As a good citizen he owes it to the com- 
munity, he thinks, to vote with the Demo- 
crats for the restoration of decent and hon- 
est government. 

But you argue that there are other issues 
besides the ‘‘nigger” involved in this cam- 
paign. Thatis very true, and with your 
indulgence I will consider some of these 
hurriedly. For instance, there is the last 
Legislature; I will not ask you to believe 
any Democratic testimony touching the 
last Legislature, but will quote only what 
Senator Butler’s papers, the Caucasian and 
the: Progressive Farmer said touching the 
last Legislature. These with you, I take it 
are authority. 

“Up to this date the Legislature is a 

14 


4 


damnable disgrace to the State.’”’ Caucasian. 
Feb.’ 27th, 1897. 

“The good done by the Legislature could 
be printed ‘n a small pamplet. The bad 
done and the good omitted would fill several 
large volumes.” Progressive Farmer. 

“There is some talk of an extra session of 


the Legislature. Please don’t Gov. Russell. 


We can endure famine, pestilence, drouth, 
war; but don't inflict any prolonged agony 
on the State, such as an extra session.” 
Progressive Farmer, March 2, 1897. 

‘As to the Legislature of 1897, the one 
now in session, we have to say asa fact 
that it has won the contempt of the people 
generally of all parties, and we have to say 
as an opinion, that we do not believe that 
it can overcome that contempt in two years’ 
time, and hence cannot get the approval of 
the people.’ ‘'—Caucasian. 

‘The Legislature has now only about ten 
days to complete its work, and it hasn’t 
begun the work yet. Let the miserable 
pie-hunters go to work or go home.”—Pro- 
gressive Farmer, Feb. 23rd, 1897. 

‘“Swepson is not the only boss our North 
Carolina Legislature ever had. To a man 
yp atree it appears that the Pops nomi- 
nated some extremely sorry timber for 
the Legislature last year. “—Progressive 
Farmer, January 26th, 1897. 

Nor is this all touching the Legislature— 
the cry of the great reform party was re- 
trenchment of expenses. Now let’s see 
how they kept their promise to the people: 


The Democratic Legislature of 


1891 cost. ee RO) CS OL 
The Democratic Legislature of 


Meee eo ins fs) 65,976.78 


These were the two last Demo- 
cratic Legislatures and they 
15 


OOBUEL Ce MEN Ct DERE ena $128,994.79 
The Rep-Pop Legislature of 


LOUS COSt 6.) kote ree $72,266.74 
The Rep-Pop Legislature of 
VOOR UGOST NS whee. | ieee ae 70, 7007s 


The two Rep-Pop Legislatures 7 
COSTE Micha ant nia. nia Gas $143,027.49 
So the two Rep-Pop Legislatures cost the 

taxpayers $14,032.70 more than the two 

preceding Democratic Legislatures. This, 
candor will compel you to admit, was 
pretty costly reform. 

Nor is this all, my dear friend, for I want 
to convince you that there is something be- 
side the ‘‘nigger” in this matter. 

Let us compare the cost of the State gOv- 
ernment for the year 1891 and 1893 when 
Democratic Legislatures made the appro- 
priations, with the costs for the years 1895 
and 1897, when Rep-Pop Legislatures made 
the appropriations: 


1891 Cost of State govern- 


HALT teas pied cis.) eam cee $1,179, 794.88 
1893 Cost of State govern- 

WMILOTi Le Mer eka, 2 f + math ee SEIS TO TOme ame 
Cost for 1891 and 1893 (Dem- 

OCraClMeats ....\., ee $2,499,444.95 
1895 Cost of State govern- 

mentee eins ss. a - $1,349,335.65 
1897 Cost of State govern- 

Men ye: Gee) 0. I, 364,048.29 


Cost for 1895 and 1897 (Re- 
publican years)..... -.+. $2,713, 383.04 
The two Republican years, cost the tax- 
payers $213,938.96 more than the two Dem- 
ocratic years; this is. another exhibition of 
Retrenchment and Reform, that does not 
show up very creditably for a party that 
16 


rode into power on the cry of ‘Retrench- 
ment and Reform.” 

Surely, with Madam Roland, we may ex- 
claim, ‘‘Oh, liberty, what crimes are com- 
mitted in thy name.” 

These are only two instances and I quote 
them here to show you the inconsistency 
and insincerity of ‘‘our friends, the enemy.” 
There are scores and scores of other in- 
stances, that show up equally as bad if not 
Wore; Noris this all. -For the ¢rédit: of 
North Carolina I wish it was. But see 

A Contrast. Figures do not lie. 

The Republican party left the State a debt 
of $42,000,000 up to 1870 when the Demo- 
crats got control of the Legislature, where- - 
_ as when the Democrats went out of power 
in 1894. they left a debt of only $3,615,720. 

In 1870 twenty-seven counties were hope- 
lessly under negro rule and overwhelmed 
with debt, and unable to pay their county 
ectipt.° In 1894 when the Democratic rule 
ended, the last one of these counties had 
_ good governmentand were solvent and able 
to pay all their obligations dollar for dollar. 

In 1870 the Republicans had collected 
$370,560 for school purposes, spent only 
$38,981, presumably for schools and squan- 
dered the balance, Not one school house 
was built, and not one child was educated. 
Up to 1894, the Democrats collected and 
spent $815,000 for school purposes, and es- 
tablished a good common school system 
and enlightened thousands of the children 
of the State. In 1870 under the Republican 
party we had a University with a paid fac- 
ulty, and not one student. The doors had 
been opened to whites and negroes alike, 
with the result that no student entered the 
University. Under Democratic rule in 1894 
_the University had a paid faculty, and over 


17 


500 students. In 1870 there was no pro- 
vision for the education of our women, but 
in 1894 there was a State Normal School 
with 400 students, and there was established 
the Agricultural & Mechanical College for 
whites. When in power the Democrats 
provided also common schools for the 
colored race and provided higher education 
in the College of Agricultural & Mechanical 
arts for the colored people. So much for 
education. 

In 1870 under the Republicans, we had 
but one asylum for the unfortunate insane. 
During the Democratic administration, the 
asylum at Raleigh was enlarged and im- 
proved, the asylum at Morganton was built 
for the whites, and one at Goldsboro for 
the negroes. 

In the campaign of 1894 the momentous 
question of the future of North Carolina was 
involved—whether the State should be turn- 
ed over to the party that had debauched 
and disgraced it, or be kept in the hands of 
the party that had governed it wisely and 
well. Near fifty thousand voters had cast 
their ballots for the Populist Party in 18g2, 
so that party held the balance of power 
between the two old parties and could there- 
fore determine the result of the election. — 
It had the record of these two parties before 
it, and, strange to say, the leaders of this 
party of reform, deliberately planned and 
traded and bargained with the Republican 
party in consideration of certain offices for 
themselves to turn the State over to the Re- 
publican party disgraced, as it is, with its 
dark and damnable record; and then, in 
1896, for like consideration, the same dis- 
graceful trade was confirmed by this party 
of reform. One other matter and then Iam 


done. 
18 


The basis principle of the Populist party, 
is the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 
16 to 1, this principle was the foundation 
stone of your party’s organization. Your 
party for Free Silver, abandoned the Sub- 
Treasury idea, but if the Populist fuse with 
the Republicans the party of the Gold Stand- 
ard, the party that fosters and encourages 
trusts and combines, what becomes of the 
Free Silver plank, the chief plank of the 
Populist platform. Therefore can any hon- 
est Populist sanction fusion from any point 
of view, without making a great sacrifice 
of his honor. 

If the Gold Bugs and Monopolists get con- 
trol of the next Congress, they will most 
likely follow up the demonetization of silver, 
by making it redeemable in gold. Then, 
if the Democratic party’s platform is so 
similar to the platform of the Populist party, 
that the Democrats. have been. openly 
charged with stealing the platform of the 
Populist party, why don’t the honest Pop- 
ulist, the Populist who is one from princi- 
ple and not for “pie” support the Demo- 
crats in this contest, rather than be lured 
away from the ‘‘bed rock” of their faith and 
principles by the siren song of fusion. 
The Populist who claims that he is desi- 
rous of helping the cause of Free Silver, 
and fuses with the Gold Bug Gold Standard, 
Trust ridden Republican party, is simply 
‘stealing the livery of Heaven to serve the 
Devil in.” You and your party associates 
were once Democrats, true and loyal to the 
‘party, respected and esteemed by all men, 
_ because of your good character, your hon- 
esty, your fidelity to the principles of.the 
party of ‘‘the white man and the white 
metal.” The party originated by the great- 
est statesman this country has ever pro- 
duced, Thomas Jefferson, the party whose 
3 19 


glory is co-extensive with the glory of this 
great country of ours. You are entitled to 
share the glory ofthis great country of ours. 
You are entitled to share the glory of this 
grand old party, because you were once a 
member of it in goodstanding. Then, why 
not come back home? You will be wel- 
comed gladly.. The past shall be forgotten. 
We stand ready to lock shields with all 
honest Populists, in an effort to defeat fusion, 
which you have my word for it, is only 
another name for the Gold Standard, My 
views . touching fusion are very. similar to 
the views held by Senator Butler on fusion. 

In July 1892, Senator Butler said: ‘‘“Now 
a word to those who have joined the Peo- 
ples’ party; What is there to be gained for 
reform by defeating the Democratic State 
ticket? Nothing, but much to lose, let 
the result be whatit may. If you elect 
your ticket you do it at the sufferance of 
the Republican party, and you are at their 
mercy now and in the future. If you are 
the cause of the Republican party captur- 
ing the state you have given a heavy blow 
to the cause of reform and have put the 
management of our stateinto unworthy and 
incapable hands. Let not those who want 
office more than thy do reform precipitate 
you into taking any such unwise action.” 

Iam confident I have tired you, but my 
cause is dear to my heart, and should be 
near and dear to every man who loves the 
welfare of North Carolina.. I have written 
nothing in malice, but I have honestly en- 
deavored to give you a truthful diagnosis 
of the situation as I sée it. 

In conclusion I want you to read the 
open letter of Mr. Thorn, of Warren Coun-. 
ty, which I beg to enclose with this. He 
was a candidate for Congress on the Pop- 
ulist ticket in the last election. In fact Mr, 

20 


Thorn since th> formation of the party, has 
taken an active part in his party’s politics, 
He isaman of substance and respecta- 
bility in his comunity. He ought to be 
good authority with you. 

Then after you have read the letter of 
Mr. E. A. Thorn, read if you please the let- 
ter of Mr. R. O Pickard: I enclose Mr. 
Pickard’s also. Mr. Pickard has been a 
life-long Republican, and is a man of sub- 
stance and influence in Alamance county. 

I also invite your attention to the letter 
of Mr. Geo, I. Freeman, formerly Chairman 
of the People’s Party Executive Committee 
in Richmond county, Mr. Freeman is one 
of Richmond county's best citizens. You 
will observe, my dear sir, that I am seeking 
to prove my case, relying entirely upon 
Populist and Republican testimony. 

Besides the letters of Mr. Thorne, Mr, 
Pickard and Mr Freeman, I have more than 
30 other letters of persons who were once 
Populists, and some letters too from Re- 
publicans, who have announced their inten- 
tions of voting the White Man’s ticket in the 
coming election, and I confidently predict 
that the Democratic ticket will not only 
sweep Durham County in the approaching 
election, but the Democrats are going to 
carry North Carolina, and redeem the land 
of your birth and mine from negro domina- 
tion and radical misrule. You understand 
Iam notrunning for any office. My dear ~ 
friend, it is not the lust of office that moves 
me, but the welfare and protection of your 
home and mine, and the deliverance of our 
brethren in the East from the horrors of 
misrule and negro domination, and the 
placing of North Carolina again, in the 
column of respectability among her sister 
States. 


I claim your influence, the benefit of your 
21 


advice, and your vote, in behalf of the white 
people of North Carolina, and in the behalf 
of the welfare and prosperity of North Caro- 
lina. 

I feel that I have discharged my duty; I 
leave the case with you, hoping that on the 
night of November the 8th. you may lay 
down to sleep with the proud consciousness 
of having done what was in your power, to 
strike the shackles of negro domination and 


Republican misrule from the good honest 


deserving white people of North Carolina. 
Your friend, 
In bonds of the Democratic faith,. 
JULEAN*’ So "CARR, 
Chairman of Durham Co. Dem. Ex. Co. 


22 


fet 
N. Y. 


Binder 


Gaylord Bros. 
JAN 21, 1908 


hotomount 

Pamph 
‘Makers 

racyse, 

PAT. 


P 
Sy 


Se 


ini 


00039219416 


FOR USE ONLY IN 


THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 


pac ao eles on mre See 


PS A i i ae 


